Early to bloom Heleniums
Plant profile
Making a big deal of two early to bloom Heleniums
Helenium Waltraut
It is many years since we had Heleniums in the garden. In fact, it was while we were in Aberdeen.
I didn’t like them very much, problem was we chose varieties that were way too tall and didn’t start blooming until late August.
I am now a total convert after planting Helenium Waltraut. Purchased 9cm pots of them last September and they came on leaps and bounds.
Online information on this one gives varied information regarding the flowering period. Some have it as August to September, others June till September.
In our garden, here in Fife, Scotland they started to bloom early July, and with dead heading they are looking good in early September and I expect them to flourish for another few weeks yet.
Hardiness
A fully hardy perennial in the UK
Height and spread
90 cm tall/75 cm wide
Flowers
Splashed with, orange, lemon and bronze, the 3-inch flowers are abundant. Loved by the bees and butterflies.
Position
Best in full sun
Soil
Not too fussy as long as it’s free draining. When flowering in Summer, it will let you know if it needs water by wilting.
Buy
Helenium Wesergold
We purchased and planted (Wesergold) at the same time as Helenium Waltraut. Everything about Wesergold, flowering period, height etc is identical to Waltraut except, as you can see, for the colour.
Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
A while back, I did a post on our Portuguese laurel. Although I mentioned that it was hardy, I had my doubts about it flowering in our cooler Summer temperatures.
I guess I had it in my mind that the evergreen shrub native to Portugal, was lucky to be doing so well in Scotland. Turns out it really is pretty hardy.
Four years it’s been in the border, I had given up on it flowering. Take a look below and see how it did in June 2021. Pity about the hole in the middle, it may fill in.
Thanks for the amazing content
It’s excellent site, I was looking for something like this.
Ours are looking fine in the border. We have alot of plants in pots, a lot do very well whilst others are screaming to get planted out.
I love heleniums and have a very low one – 50 cm. The name is ‘Short’n Sassy’. Unfortunately it gets ‘ugly legs’ with brown leaves. Do your heleniums have the same problem? My plants grow in pot and I don’t know if that is the reason.
Lisbeth
Nadezda, I wonder if they would flower from seed in the first year.
Joy, the flowers of the Laurel are said to have a slight fragrance, but my old nose does not pick it up.
Hello Alistair !
I love your multicoloured Helenium in different hues of orange and gold, my absolute favorite and I had not heard of that variety yet. I used to have Sahin’s Early which threw out those colours but it has been a while since I have had them now. I will be looking for that variety and hopefully I can find it. Does that laurel have a fragrance ? it is very pretty.
Your garden is always so neat and tidy and so interesting because you have so many varieties.
I’m more than happy to have Autumn approaching .. it is my favorite time of year.
Alistair,
what a treat these Helenium Waltraut and Wesergold! I liked very much.
I have to find seeds of these heleniums and grow seedlings next spring. They are perennial that I want to my new garden.
That’s an expensive annual, Ellen.I purchased these Heleniums last September, not much more than large plugs. Potted them up and left them outdoors all Winter, I then planted them in the border in April this year. If they survived Winter in small pots, I will be surprised if they do not survive in the border.
I love the colour of the helenium Waltraut alongside your agapanthus. Such a lovely contrast. I love helenium but I find in my garden they do not come back the next year so I have to treat them as annuals. Did you put yours in the ground last September or did you overwinter them?